What would make American Legions and Veteran of Foreign War posts more appealing to join for you?

The truth is that they don’t want us there. They want their old vet buddies who’ve already died. Why on earth would we want to join organizations where the members don’t want us? What exactly would be the point of joining. It’s literally more effective to create our own veteran organizations & to just let the old ones die off.

Nothing, I am a life member of VFW and member of American Legion, Semper Fi

I was a Marine (grunt for some of it) in Grenada, Lebanon, Desert Shield/Storm, and Somalia. I've had several Nam vets try to tell me that I'm not a "real veteran". My usual response is something like, "I joined the Corps at 17 in 1978, and did 20+ years. It's not my fault you pussies quit fighting before I made it over there." Normally I get a laugh, but some cop an attitude. But mostly I'm generally accepted after that. Another good line is, "No, I didn't make it to Nam. I was too busy doing your girlfriend while you were over there." Or if you really want to sting them it's, "Yes, but you guys lost that war, didn't you?" Bottom line, just give as good as you get. It's an old guy thing. I've noticed I'm developing an "old guy" attitude. When I'm at the VA, and I hear a pair of female 20+ year olds former Air Force talking about their PTSD 100% medical retirement and disability, and they barely made it to their first duty station before being medically retired, and never even made it out of CONUS, I sometimes want to scream at them that they are not REAL vets. But so far, I have been able to restrain myself. I am a proud member of both The American Legion and the VFW.

I am a life member of the DAV but all of the meeting halls have large bars and lots of smoking, I neither smoke (very allergic) and I do not drink. The American Legion and the VFW posts seems to be focused on the two activities I dislike.

I belong but don't go to the post. Not a smoker or big drinker so not really my cup of tea. As far as what war I served in why the hell does it matter? I served in Iraq and soldiers died just like every other foreign war we have been involved in. I ignore people especially a guy who was drafted and served a tour or 2 and got out. I have to tours overseas and 27 years in oh an by the way I volunteered to serve I wasn't ordered by Congress or the President! Why can't we all respect each other for what we did. Hahaha be a National Guard member like me and listen to the bullshit they talk. I was doing convoy security on the same roads in Iraq as the regular army. If people respect others or treat others the way they should be treated u would have more members period!

So much depends on the greeting members. As a Nam era/ Desert Storm vet /9/11/01 WTC responder whose military career spanned 50.5 years,-regular/reserve/Guard(Naval Militia) I joined my Local Legion post in 1986-they are very good, and they try to reach out. (like everything else, there are those who don't want to give up their fiefdoms, and I have walked away from several committees within it.) The WW II guys were lousy to the Nam era guys. Some of them woke up-I joined the VFW at my last station in California in 1993, and they asked me to be the Commander at my first meeting!! -I declined as I knew I was going to be leaving and returning to the east coast. It pains me that some of the Nam era guys are falling into the same stupid trap as was pulled on them by the WW II guys. I am very vocal about such behavior. The reason I am not Post Commander -some like me, some don't-I couldn't care less. Reaching out to the families and making it family friendly is good, The young guys need to be welcomed and groomed and provided with good opportunities, socially, and professionally. I was just asked to join the local Town Veterans Committee (Towns here are comprised of many villages) Sometimes I feel like an old guy and some of these older guys are DINOSAURS. They don't remember what it was like to be a younger veteran-trying to get jobs, establish careers, make a family. I will be shaking them up. "Putting a smile on their faces" -sweet-but so what. Can you make a call? Get them an interview?? THAT is what is needed.

VFW doesn’t need to change their requirement for membership!
I belong to American Legion Dept of AR. Post 52 & also Auxiliary Unit 52.
We have plenty of females in our post and leadership positions. I'm the Adjutant and also the District 2 Cmdr. I have brought up changes only to be told "We tried That". I keep chipping away! We are active with Honor Guard, a Veterans' Pantry & other events. Our problem is the same older vets are dying & younger are not joiners. We also have the same volunteers who hold multiple positions. We would love some younger members but have no Sons of the Legion or Legion Riders because no voluteers to run programs.

Also Reservists and Guardsmen are treated like 2nd class veterans, which we are not, especially since 2001

I remind those who served in Vietnam that those of us who didn’t were doing what our country thought best. We are veterans of the Cold War. We served with distinction and we were available for the next deployment. I deployed overseas 3 times and never to a conflict. It was a show of force.

Sound like how they were treated by the WWII and Korea Vets when they first joined